Storage-battery container



July 14, 1925.

R. B. wl-:N

STORAGE BATTERY CONTAINER Filed April 1, 1921 ifmdww INVENTOR.

Patented July 14, 1925.

UNITED STATES RICHARD IB. OWEN, 0F WASHINGTON, DISTRICT O'F COLUMBIA.

STORAGE-BATTERY CONTAINER.

Application led April 1, 1921. SerialiNo. 457,628.

To all whom t may conce/m.'

Be it known that RICHARD B. OWEN, a citizen of the United States of America, residing at Washington, in the District of Columbia, has invented certain new and useful Improvements in Storage-Battery Containers, of which the following is a specification.

The present invention relates to new and useful improvements in storage batteries, and more particularly to the containers used therefor. j

An important object of the invention is to provide a container comprising a unitary structure composed of inexpensive synthetic material of a nature which will resist chemical 4action and possess sufficient rigidity to form, by itself without the use of auxiliary means ay practical supporting structure in Which is obviated necessity of using an auxiliary outer case of wood or other material.

vAnother important object of the invention is to provide a unitary multi-compartment container having substantially rigid walls; and partitions therein possessing a degree of flexibility. v

A further object of the invention is to provide a unitary multi-compartment container and a one piece cover therefor designed to close all of the compartments, the cover having means engaging the partitions within the container for support.

A still further object of the invention is to provide in a storage battery means for resiliently supporting the groups of plate assemblies to prevent damage to the jars in which they are contained as well as undue detriorating of the plates themselves.

Other objects and advantages of the invention will become apparent during the course of the following description.

lIn the accompanying drawing forming a part of the application and wherein like numerals are employed to designate like parts throughout the several views,

Figure l is a longitudinal vertical section through a storage b attery embodying my invention.

Figure 2 is a transverse section of the same.v

Figure 3 is container.

Figure 4 is a plan of the one piece cover.

Figure 5 is a fragmentary longitudinal section of a portion of the container.

In the present commercial types of storage a top plan of the improved batteries, especially those used in automobiles for the purpose of starting and lighti ing, an auxiliary outer wooden case is used for containing a plurality of separate and independent rubber 'jarsin which are made up the various cells of the battery. The rubber jars contain electrolyte usually consisting of a solution of sulphuric acid, and consequentl they musty possess the characteristic o being able to resist the chemical attacks of this solution. There are many disadvantages accruing to this type of battery, some of which are that the wooden cases are of course unable to withstand the effects of the acid solution, the jars are brittle and oftencrack, and production of the batteries is impaired due to the time consumed in assembling the separate jars with'the wooden cases.

In order to prevent vibration of the jars of a battery within the wooden case, they are usually forced into the outer case to fit close agamst each other and the walls of the casing. After thebattery has been in use for some time, the Wooden separators between the plates swell and enlarge as do also the negative plates, thus often causing' the assemblies of plates to be firmly bound in their' respective jars. The assemblies often become wedged so tightly in their jars that a great amount of force, is necessary to extract them. Therefore, it is one of the objects of my present invention to-eliminate this difficulty by providing a unitary container which takes the place of both the separate jars and the wooden outer case, and embodies partitions possessing a degree of llex' ibility.`

Referring now vto the drawing wherein for the purpose of illustrationis shown a preferred embodiment of the invention, a unitary or one piece multi-compartment jar or container is designated by the numeral 6 and is constructed or moulded from a certain synthetic composition with rubber as a basic ingredient and so formulated as to impart to the jar particular properties essential for its commercial success. These properties are that the material is not brittle, it is tough and will resist the deteriorating attacks of chemicals, it is substantially rigid when moulded of certain thickness, and when moulded in other thicknesses possesses the valuable characteristic of being flexible. This container is of rectangular conguration, the exterior surfaces of the walls therene i of being plane. These walls, including sides 7, ends 8 and a bottom 9 are moulded of a thickness to insure them of being substantially rigid, and top of the jar is open as seen in the drawing. The inner surfaces of the end walls 8 are recessed to provide transversely extending shoulders or ledges 10 which extend entirely across the wall. Handles 11 of any desirable type are carried by the end walls so that the battery may be conveniently handled.

A plurality of spaced partitions 12 are moulded with the container and extend transversely thereof to divide the sameinto a plurality of compartments to receive plate or electrode assemblies 13, one of which is shown in the drawing positioned, in one of the compartments. It will of course, be understood that the partitions form integral parts of the container in the present instance, but I do not desire to be restrlcted 1n this respect for the partitions may be made' separable to slide in and out of the container. These partitions extend from one side 7 of the cont-ainer to the other side and from the bottom thereof to points substantial distances below the top edges of the side and end walls, it being noted that the top edges of the partitions are arranged in approximately the same plane with the shoulders or ledges 10. It is to be particularly noted that the partitions are moulded relatively thin whereby they possess a degree of flexibility, while as stated before, the walls of the container are substantially rigid and consequently do not require an aux1liary outer case or auxiliary means for supportingand strengthemng they A ing straps 15 arranged approximatelypon a level with the tops of the partitions. The straps are equipped with upstanding threaded posts, 16 which extend4 through openings 19 in a cover 17. Bindingnuts. l18are threaded upon the posts to engage the top of the cover. In this` manner the assemblies of plates are supported to a great extent by the cover, the weightof the plates being thus largely removed from the ribs 14.

The cover Aof. the container is a one piece structure having pairs of openings 1 9 therein for the reception of the posts 16.

The cover is equipped with a depending surrounding flange or apron 20 which at the ends of the cover is provided with outwardly extending flanges 21 adapted to rest upon .strips 22 of resilient material, such as rubber, positioned upon the shoulders 10 of the. container. As the shoulders or ledges 10 the container will be approximately flush v with the top edges of the container walls. Due to the particular flanging o-f the ends of the cover, a space is provided between its depending flange 20 and the ends of the container whereby a suitable sealing compound 20 may be packedinto this space to seal the container.

Strips 23 similar to 22 are positioned upon the upper edges of the partitions to support transverse ribs 24 moulded upon the under side of the cover and corresponding to the location of the partitions. As the depending ribs and the flanges of the cover rest upon the cushioning strips and the plate assemblies are supported by the cover, the

assemblies -will be yieldably supported so their full weight is not imposed upon thev ribs 14 in the bottom of the compartments. In the ordinary type of batteries, the plates rest directly upon the ribs and constant vibration of the batteries causes the plates to rub against the ribs to such an extent that the latter becomes worn and chipped. Furthermore the active material on the plates is caused to crumble and disintegrate, due to the plates knocking .against the ribs. These disadvantages are eliminated by the construction above set forth wherein the plates are resiliently supported. In Figure 5, a modification of the cushioning strips is seen and which consists of U-shaped strips 25. These strips are positioned to clasp the 4upper edges of the partitions 12 or if desired may be placed upon the ribs 24 of the cover. Similar strips are also positioned upon the flanges 21 of the cover to engage the ledges 10 and it will be appreciated that this type of cushioning strip will not become accidently displaced. p

When it becomes necessary to remove a plate assembly from one of the compartments in In improved container, the cover 17 thereof 1s simply removed in a manner Well understood. As stated before, the plate assembled in the present type of battery are frequently .wedged firmly in their respective compartments, 4' and in some instances vises must be used to extracty the plate assemblies from the4 jars, due -to the fact that there is practically. no give or flexibility to the walls of the jars when they are arranged in contact with one another. Even if the plate assemblies should become wedged in my present container, little or no diiliculty would be experienced in quickly removing them, because of the partitions 12 being of a sufficiently flexible nature to permit of the withdrawing of the elements with little difhculty.

The foregoing description and accompan ing drawings have reference to what mig t be considered to bc the approved or preerred form of my invention. I desirefit to be understood that I may make such changes Ain the construction, combination and arrangement of parts, materials, dimensions, etc. as may prove expedient and fall within the scope of the' appended claims. A

Having thus described by inventionA what I claim as new and desire to secure by Letters Patent is: V Y

1. A storage battery comprising in combination', a jar having supporting ledges, a 'cover therefor having flanges engaging the ledges of the jar, and U-shaped soft' rubber cushion elements received on said flanges and adapted to rest upon said ledges.l

2. A storage battery comprising in combination, a unitary container having shoulders at opposite ends thereof, partltions 1n said container-dividing the same into a plurality of cell compartments, and a one piece 20 sponding to the partitions for supporting 25 engagement therewith.

In testimony whereof I affix my signature in presence of two witnesses.

'RICHARD B. OW'EN. Witnesses:

lRvINc L. MOCATHIAN, E. E. OWEN. 

